Video doorbells and touchless solutions gain popularity during COVID-19

Home security in the age of COVID-19 has created increased demand for certain products and solutions, such as video doorbells and touchless and wireless solutions. Interest in these products can be directly linked to effects of coronavirus. For example, video doorbells can help homeowners identify approaching delivery persons, and touchless systems could help limit the spread of the virus on surfaces.

Growing interest in video doorbells

Home deliveries have soared during the coronavirus pandemic. With people advised to limit social interactions and concerned about catching the virus, homeowners are turning to online ordering of everything from home essentials to groceries.

Even before COVID-19 would change the world, a survey by Omdia showed that consumers were most interested in video doorbells, in terms of home security solutions. This was followed by professional alarm systems (sensors) and then outdoor cameras. Indoor security cameras and smart door locks garnered less interest than the other security device types.

During COVID-19, outdoor cameras and video doorbells have gained the most traction, according to Blake Kozak, Senior Principal Analyst of Smart Home and Security Technology at Omdia. “Despite children and parents spending more time at home, the apprehension surrounding home security has only been amplified during the pandemic,” he said.

Video doorbells have been particularly useful during the pandemic, helping manage non-contact deliveries, according to Anna Sliwon-Stewart, Senior Analyst and Research Manager of Security and Building Technologies at Omdia. Homeowners can easily check and communicate with delivery persons regarding their parcel without the need to come in contact with them at all via video doorbells. This further adds a significant peace of mind over health concerns for many end users.

From a service provider and hardware manufacturers perspective, Kozak highlighted that end-to-end systems are what homeowners want and need. “Rather than a system that consists of many brands, apps and cloud-based servers, providers that can offer a single-brand across the ecosystem from security cameras, video doorbells, security sensors and a strong platform, will be most successful,” he said.

More touchless and wireless solutions

In the professionally installed market, Omdia has observed an emphasis on touchless and wireless solutions that take the least time to install. Fully wireless solutions that do not require running cables or drilling in the walls, mean the installation can take less than 30 minutes which reduces the time that an installer is present at the customer location.

When it comes to touchless solutions, Sliwon-Stewart pointed out that although keypads are still primarily used to operate intruder alarm systems, the ability to use the keypad as a key fob reader or the ability to use a key fob instead have become more important.

“Individual key fobs can, like mobile phones, be disinfected by the end user, so the risk of transmission of the virus across the household is reduced. Similarly, the ability to avoid touching the keypad in the home will help reduce that risk further,” she said.

For homeowners that are more tech-savvy, they could use their smartphone to arm and disarm the home security systems. On the other hand, those that prefer not to deal with the hassle of getting their phone out on the way to the house will find the use of key fobs much simpler. Additionally, homeowners that have systems with geolocation features enabled would be able to arm and disarm the system without interacting with any equipment, as the system would automatically sense that the homeowners is in close proximity.